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Union bosses have accused the council of putting 122 jobs at risk, about 20 per cent of the workforce. But council sources claim almost all those under threat will be assigned new roles following a restructure.

Unite is now calling on the council’s chief executive Stella Manzie to bring in conciliation service Acas to resolve the dispute ahead of the industrial action.

Binmen are to take industrial action.

Regional officer Lynne Shakespeare said: “The council’s actions have managed to combine financial incompetence in the waste management team and now they have started bullying our members as the bosses attempt to cut full-time jobs.

“The council wants to axe 122 waste collection jobs after a woefully inadequate consultation with the unions.

"The process was a sham, bordering on a farce – and that’s why Unite members will be taking strike action to protect services to the public in the UK’s biggest local authority.”

Council director in charge of bins, Jacqui Kennedy, said the measures were designed to improve the service and make it more cost-effective.

She said: “We regret that disputes have been registered by four unions and that action to disrupt our refuse collection services is planned by Unite.

“We want to get round the table with the unions but our priority must be Birmingham residents and businesses.

“The current working arrangements are not cost-effective and do not provide citizens with a good service.